Amalgamator



(No Moden H. M. J ONES.

AMALGAMATOR.

No.. 258,429. Patents ad mayzs. 1882.

INVENTOR %Wfi TORNBYS W i ;ML i; !LA

WAY/W WITNESSES: W M

NKTED STATES ATENT 'm rena HENRY M. JONES, OF SANTA FE, TERRITORY OF NEXV MEXICO.

AMALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. :258,429, dated May 23, 1882.

Application filed September 15, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY M. JoNEs, of Santa Fe, in the county of Santa F, New Mexico, have invented a new and Improved Amalgamator, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this inventionis to provide an improved machine for dry amalgamation.

The invention consists of an endless belt provided with projecting teeth running over rollers-in a box having fixed teeth projecting upward in its bottom, the teeth ot' the belt passing between the fixed teeth, whereby the ore introduced in to the box shall be thoroughly mixed with the mercury that is designed to be in the bottom of the box.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan of the amalgamator with parts broken awayto exhibit other parts. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same on line :r x, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of the same on line 3 y, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, Arepresents the amalgamator box or case, preferably of rectangular form, and having inclined planes a a' in each end in its bottom for the purpose of keeping the quicksilver in the center of the said box A, where it shall all be exposed to the action of the belt-teeth. A number of pointed spikes or teeth,B, are passed upthrough the box-bottom, so as to project two or three inches, or thereabout, into said box A, and said teeth B are held in place by nuts b, sc ewed on their shanks inside said box A. Fixed transversely in said box A, and journaled in its sides, are the rollers 0 C' (3- supporting the endless belt D. The rollers or drums G G' are set near the opposite endsof the box A, parallel with each other and with the box-bottom, and but a short distance above the points of the teeth B, while the other roller, 0 is set above and parallel with the roller C', but near the top of the -inclined plane a', so that the endless beltD, which is passed over all these rollers 0 0' 0 shall, between the rollers O C', be parallel with the bottom of the box A and on an inclination of about forty-five degrees between the rollers G' C and on an inclination of about twenty degrees between the rollers (J C, the inclination given to the said belt D between the rollers C' 0 being for the purpose of permitting the quicksilver and amalgam to fall therefrom upon the inclined plane a that it may flow thence into the quicksilver bath E and be incorporated therewith. This belt D is provided with teeth F, set preferably in diagonal rows, to facilitate the stirring of the ore and quicksilver together, said teeth F being so arranged that they pass or nove in the interstices between the teeth B. These teeth F are held in the belt D by nuts and washers gh, as shown. The horizontal position of the belt D between the rollers O C' is designed to be almost or quite in contact With the mercury bath, so that when the machine is in operation all the particles of ore shall be forced to come in contact with the mercury bath, being pressed therein by the said horizontal portion of the belt D.

In the top of the box A, at one end thereof, about over the roller C, is fitted a hopper, Gr, for the introduction of the ore, and in this hopper G is an inclined grating, H, to prevent the entrance of large stones or lumps ot' ore, which, when thrown on said grat-,ing H, are discharged therefrom through a side opening, 70, in said box A.

Govers and doors I K afford access to the interior of the box A for the purpose of removing` the amalgam and of repairing the parts.

Power is applied to the machine through the crank L, that is fixed on the outward-projecting shaft of the roller C. As the belt D is revolved the ore and quicksilver are thoroughly mixed together by the action ot' the teeth F B, the lumps oi' ore being finely broken up thereby, so that all the ore contained therein is exposed to the action of the quieksilver. The belt D extends the entire width of the box A, so that all parts of the quicksilver bath E are reached by the stirring-teeth F between the rollers O C', whereby the ore and quicksilveraremostthoroughlyand intimately mixed together.

Suitable longitudinal partitions may be placed in the box A, so that the process of amalgamation may go on in one side of said box A while the other portion is being cleaned out.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An amalgamator made substantially as IOO herein shown and described, consisting of an edless belt of teeth adapted to travel over rollers within a suitable receptacle which has fixed teeth rising from its bottom, the beltteeth passing between the fixed teeth, Whereby the ore and the mercury will be thoroughly mixed, as set forth.

2. In an amalgamator, the combination, with the box A, having fixed teeth rising from its I bottom, of the revolving endless belt D, proo Vided With teeth F, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the ore and mercury are mixed, as set forth.

II. M. JONES.

itnessesz J B. XVILLETT, J. S. HANE Y. 

